Please help with math homework

Question

What 2 numbers multiply to equal -3 but can also be added to equal 2

Answer 1

Hey!

The first step is remembering that a variable can always be used to represent an unknown number. I'll use x and y. Since we have two statements, we can convert these to two equations like so:

(x)(y) = -3

x+ y = 2.

You could begin with either equation, but the goal is to solve for one variable - this will lead you to figure out what the other is using substitution! Let's say we solved for y using the second equation. Then we have y = 2 -x. Substituting this into the other equation, we have:

(x)(2-x) = -3.

Foil it out...then setting the equation equal to zero, you would get...

x²-2x-3 = 0

This is a factorable quadratic! I hope you can take it from here. Just make sure to "check" your x and y in the end!

Edit: It is actually vitally important that you check the numbers. You might discover something about the x-values...